well aware - Atlantic Health System

well aware
Make It
a Safe
Summer
New Women’s
Heart Program
Tackles Gender
Differences
When It’s an
Emergency
Summer
2012
What You
Need to Know
About Joint
Replacement
in
brief
contents
Dear Friends,
Inside, you’ll find helpful information and advice from our worldclass physicians on everything
from gender differences in heart
disease — and the launch of our
new Women’s Heart Program —
to the effect of vitamin D on bone
health, to staying safe and healthy
during your summer vacation.
More Reasons
features
departments
And be sure to read about a
cutting-edge ovarian cancer
screening trial. Atlantic Health
System is one of only six health
care providers nationwide that
enroll women in this critical area
of research. The information we
gather could help determine a
new standard of care to improve
ovarian cancer detection rates
and, in turn, improve the survival statistics for a disease that
is highly treatable when found
early enough.
3
In Brief
4
To Your Health
8
Calendar of Events
16 Main Locations
6
New Women’s Heart
Program Tackles
Gender Gap
10 Treating Cancer
to Get Your Vitamin D
It’s no secret that vitamin D is vital for good
bone health. Without it, your body can’t absorb
calcium, resulting in weak bones. Vitamin D may
also boost muscle strength and even protect
against type 2 diabetes and cancer, and it reduces
the risk of osteoporosis in older adults. You get
12 When Is It an Emergency?
Life Stage
Vitamin D
Recommended
Daily Amount
14 What You Need to Know
Birth to 12 months
Children 1-13 years
Teens 14-18 years
Adults 19-70 years
Adults 71 years and older
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
About Joint Replacement
Through the pages of Well
Aware, we will keep you informed about the most important health news, and the latest
developments throughout Atlantic Health System as we continue to expand programs and
services for our community.
O
ne in five Americans (and
one in three Caucasians)
will develop some form of
skin cancer in their lives,
says board-certified plastic surgeon
Renee Comizio, MD, who practices at
Newton Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center.
Sincerely,
Speaking
of Skin
Cancer
Joseph A. Trunfio
President and CEO
Atlantic Health System
Managing Editor, Well Aware:
Vicki Banner
Talk to us
Tell us what you want to see in
Well Aware. Email us at
[email protected].
Or write us at Atlantic Health System,
Attn: Well Aware, P.O. Box 1905,
Morristown, NJ 07962.
Visit our blog
Well Aware — Your Way provides an
open forum for patients, employees
and friends of Morristown Medical
Center, Overlook Medical Center,
Newton Medical Center and Goryeb
Children’s Hospital to foster a
discussion about issues related to
hospital experiences and current
health topics. Check us out at
atlantichealthblog.org.
2
A t l a n t i c
H e a l t h
vitamin D from exposure to the sun; some foods —
fatty cold-water fish like salmon and mackerel
and fortified milk, for example; and supplements.
But are you getting enough? The Food and
Nutrition Board recommends these average daily
amounts, listed in international units (IU):
Director of Marketing
& Public Relations:
Michael Samuelson
Contact Information:
Atlantic Health System
475 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07962
Email:
[email protected]
Well Aware is published for Atlantic
Health System by Wax Custom
Communications.
For additional information, visit
atlantichealth.org.
Follow us on Facebook:
/MorristownMedicalCenterNJ
/NewtonMedicalCenterNJ
/OverlookMedicalCenterNJ
Sy stem
Atlantic Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in New Jersey, comprised
of Morristown Medical Center, Goryeb Children’s
Hospital, Overlook Medical Center in Summit and
Newton Medical Center. The four medical facilities have a combined total of 1,310
licensed beds and more than 2,852 affiliated physicians providing a wide array
of health care services to the residents of northern and central New Jersey. The
medical centers, and Goryeb Children’s Hospital as part of Morristown Medical
Center, are accredited by The Joint Commission. Specialty service areas include
advanced cardiovascular care, pediatric medical and surgical specialties, neurology,
orthopedics and sports medicine. Each of these programs has earned top ratings
and recognitions in their respective fields. Atlantic Health System is the official
health care partner of the New York Jets and an official health care provider of the
New Jersey Devils.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this magazine and website is not
intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, for which your physician is
your best choice. The information in the articles, website or the sites to which it links
should not be used as the basis for diagnosing or treating any medical condition.
Reproduction of Well Aware in whole or in part without written permission from the
publisher is prohibited. Copyright ©2012. All rights reserved.
The most common is basal cell cancer, which tends to occur in those areas typically exposed to the sun: the
face, scalp, arms and chest. “It typically
presents as a raised, pearly pink or red
skin lesion with small vessels present
on the surface,” Dr. Comizio says. “It
can, however, take on many appearances. It is sometimes believed to be
400 IU
600 IU
600 IU
600 IU
800 IU
600 IU
Not sure
if you’re
getting
enough
vitamin D?
Check with
your doctor.
a pimple.” But unlike an actual pimple,
this one may fade away and then reappear in the same place. “Please note,
there are many ways skin cancers can
appear,” Dr. Comizio adds. “The runof-the-mill whitehead pimple does not
mean you have skin cancer.”
Avoiding midday sun and always wearing sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) remain the best defenses, but not all skin
cancers result from sun exposure. “If
you have a family history or personal
history of skin cancer, or if you have
suffered through many sunburns, you
should be undergoing at least yearly
skin cancer screenings performed by
a dermatologist,” Dr. Comizio says.
Atlantic Health System Gets Top Rankings
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., one of the nation’s most respected health care research and information
companies, ranked Atlantic Health System medical centers as No. 1 in the categories below:
Morristown Medical
Center was ranked the Top
Hospital in New Jersey for the
second consecutive year and
voted the No.1 hospital for
coronary surgery, treatment
of heart failure, hip and knee
repair, and pediatric cancers.
Newton Medical
Center ranked No. 1 for Top
Hospital Overall in the 350
beds or fewer category.
Overlook Medical Center
was ranked the No. 1 Top
Hospital for the Treatment of
Neurological Disorders and
for the Treatment of Stroke.
study
Sleep Less,
Eat More
Do you stay up late
into the night and find
yourself snacking
more? Sleep-deprived
people ate more
calories than those
who got enough sleep,
according to a recent
study presented at
an American Heart
Association meeting.
Researchers tested
two groups of healthy
young men and women.
Half got their normal
sleep time, while the
others only got twothirds of their sleep.
The sleep-deprived
group consumed an
average of 549 extra
calories per day. It
was a small study, but
it does suggest lack
of sleep may be a
preventable cause of
weight gain.
Log on to
ahsleepcenters.com
for information
on Atlantic Health
System’s Sleep Centers
or call 866-906-5666.
a t l a n t i c h e a l t h . o rg
3
To Your
Health
Six Tips
for a Safe
4
Summer
If you’re planning a summer getaway, a few
simple precautions can help keep you safe
and healthy on the road.
Stay safe
in the sun
Outdoor activities are part of summer’s
pleasures, but it’s crucial to remember to
protect yourself during those long hours
spent outside: When possible, stay out of
the sun during midday, even on cloudy
days. “UV radiation can pass through the
clouds and can be reflected off of surfaces like sand, cement and water,” says
Jan Schwarz-Miller, MD, MPH, director of
occupational health and safety, infection
prevention, and pharmacy services for Atlantic Health System.
Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or
greater. Make sure it protects against both
UVA and UVB radiation, and apply 15 to 30
minutes before going outside.“Throw away
expired sunscreen; if there is no date on the
product, throw it away after three years,” Dr.
Schwarz-Miller says.
3
4
A t l a n t i c
The
ABCDEs
of Skin
Cancer
H e a l t h
Safe Summer
Travels
Sy stem
Check yourself by bathing or showering within
two hours after coming indoors; check children
and pets, too. If you do have a tick bite and you
develop fever, aches, headache, fatigue, rashes
or joint pain within the weeks following, consult
your health care provider.
Keep moving. The biggest issue for travelers is blood clots, so move around every 60
to 90 minutes. If you’re stuck in your seat on a
plane, you can still exercise — pump your feet;
move your shoulders. “And avoid putting stuff
under the seat in front of you; more room is better,” says William B. Felegi, DO, FACEP, medical
director, Travel MD®.
2
Hydrate
Watch the water. If you’re traveling internationally, unless you’re in Europe, Australia
or New Zealand, drink bottled water with no ice.
For fruits and vegetables, Dr. Felegi’s advice:
“Peel it, boil it or throw it away.”
Water is still the gold standard for staying hydrated during exercise, says
Damion Martins, MD, director of Ortho & Sports Medicine for Atlantic Heath
System. “The only time to consider a drink with carbohydrates (Gatorade®,
Powerade®, etc.) is with exercise bouts lasting longer than 60 minutes,”
he says. If you do choose those products, you can dilute them with water to
decrease stomach issues.
Drink in moderation. “When people
are traveling, they tend to imbibe. Under the influence, they may participate in risky behavior
and increase their chance of injury,” Dr. Felegi
says. “That’s the No. 1 health issue of travelers
overseas: accidents.”
Start hydrating even before exercising, Dr. Martins adds. Athletes should
drink approximately two cups of water before starting their workout, and
then continue to sip throughout. Ideally, the water should be just slightly
cool: 59-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepare your first-aid kit. In
addition to a pain reliever such as Tylenol®,
Advil® or Aleve®, pack Benadryl®, hydrocortisone cream, antiseptic ointment and bandages.
Overseas travelers should have a list of their
medications with the generic names. And carry
a copy of an EKG if you’re a cardiac patient, Dr.
Felegi says.
If you have any unusual moles,
have a dermatologist check them.
“Early detection leads to improved
survival,” says Eric D. Whitman,
MD, FACS, director for Atlantic
Melanoma Center. “The incidence
of melanoma is still going up,
especially in younger people.”
5
Ban
bug
Bites
To keep ticks and mosquitoes at bay, use insect
repellent — particularly between dusk and
dawn — and reapply if you get sweaty or wet,
Dr. Schwarz-Miller says. The CDC believes that
repellents containing DEET or picaridin provide
the longest lasting protection. Watch for moles with these
characteristics:
- Asymmetrical shape or color
- Border irregular
- Color uneven
- Diameter greater than 6 millimeters
- Elevated above skin’s surface
Be ready to get home quickly. In
case of an emergency: “You really should have
the wherewithal to get home quickly or have
air evacuation insurance, especially if traveling
internationally,” Dr. Felegi says. “The cost of an
emergency evacuation back to home can cost
upward of $50,000 without such insurance.”
Don’t Miss the Signs
of Heatstroke
Heatstroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures or physical
activity in hot weather — either of which can happen easily during a New
Jersey summer, so it’s important to watch for the signs. “Heatstroke
requires emergency treatment,” Dr. Schwarz-Miller says. “Untreated,
heatstroke can result in multiorgan damage and even death.”
Symptoms of heatstroke include a body temperature over 104 degrees
Fahrenheit, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing and
heart rate, headache, confusion and lack of sweating.
If you think someone might have heatstroke, call 911 immediately. Move
the person to a cool location and place ice packs or wet towels on his or
her head, neck, armpits and groin.
6
a t l a n t i c h e a l t h . o rg
5
New Women’s Heart Program addresses gender differences
Holistic Heart Assessment
The Gender Gap in Heart Disease
In general, women are
more likely to experience a
heart attack in an atypical
way, Dr. Gillam says.
Men will often have the
“elephant-on-the-chest”
feeling of enormous
pressure, and may feel
discomfort and pain
radiating down the left arm.
Heart
Disease
in en
wom
When it comes to heart disease, men and women are not
the same. The major gender differences that exist between men and
women when it comes to heart disease lead doctors to one conclusion: “It’s very important for us to be able to provide gender-specific
evaluation and management of women with known or suspected heart
disease,” says Linda Gillam, MD, MPH, chairperson of cardiovascular
medicine for Atlantic Health System.
Heart disease continues to be the No. 1 killer of women across the United
States and in the Tri-State Area. More than 400,000 women in this country
die each year from cardiovascular disease, compared to 40,000 deaths
from breast cancer. Among women 35-45, the incidence of cardiovascular
disease is currently rising, says Bob Masci, MD, FACC, chief of internal
medicine and a cardiologist for Newton Medical Center.
That’s why Atlantic Health System has launched the Women’s Heart
Program. “We are lucky to have an integrative medicine program,
6
A t l a n t i c
H e a l t h
Sy stem
which has done a superb job of educating people about prevention,”
Dr. Gillam says. “We also have excellent clinical cardiologists. But
we felt it was important to provide an integrated program, combining
hospital-based cardiologists with integrative medicine and the people,
facilities and programs of our community cardiologists.”
The most important — and somewhat unusual — benefit women will
receive from the program is gender-specific care. “Because gender differences are just starting to be understood, they’re not widely appreciated,” Dr. Gillam says. This program represents an effort to change that.
One example of those differences is a condition that’s turning out to be
far more common in women than men: cardiac ischemia — inadequate
oxygen reaching the heart muscle — accompanied by normal coronary
arteries. “This is a problem that’s often dismissed because the coronary
arteries are normal,” Dr. Gillam says. Women may be told that they
are imagining their symptoms. This is incorrect, she says. “There are
Women may have those
symptoms, too. But they
can also experience other,
less typical symptoms:
• Shortness of breath
• Intense anxiety
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Discomfort in the back,
right side of the chest,
neck or abdomen
• Nausea
• Unexplained, profound
sweating
Don’t ignore any
symptom that comes on
regularly with exercise,
no matter where in the
upper body it occurs.
One of the strong points of Atlantic Health System’s heart
program is the holistic team, Dr. Gillam says. Someone who is
presumably well and looking for risk factor assessment can
come in and get a heart assessment from the team. This part of
the program is all about prevention, providing nutritional advice,
lifestyle coaching and exercise classes. Since it does not provide
actual treatment or medical management for women who have
heart disease, the Women’s Heart Program team is here to
provide care for women who are worried they might have heartrelated symptoms, Dr. Gillam says.
Smoking is one risk factor
that is far more serious for
women than men. “Women
who smoke experience
their first heart attack 13
years earlier than women
who don’t smoke,”
Dr. Masci says. Another
risk factor with a gender
difference is having a
low HDL (the “good”
cholesterol) level. In fact,
for women, a low HDL level
is even more of a risk factor
than having a high level of
LDL (the “bad” cholesterol).
treatments for it. It requires certain protocols to identify the patients that
have this problem, which we offer here.”
until Bernadine Healy, MD, as head of the National Institutes of Health,
mandated their equal representation in NIH-funded trials.
Other heart disease risk factor differences can develop in women during
pregnancy, Dr. Masci says. These require close monitoring of the woman’s
heart health and include preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension. “Those can increase heart disease incidence
at a younger age,” Dr. Masci says. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
can also increase the risks, and women are more likely to develop those
diseases than men.
A research knowledge base is also crucial for cardiologists learning to
screen and treat women for cardiac issues, and for providing support
and advocacy for women. One area of need is in equipment used to treat
heart disease. Doctors know that women tend not to do as well with
catheter-based treatments as men because the devices have traditionally been one-size-fits-all — and they’re based on men’s body sizes.
“Women interventionalists and other cardiologists treating women are
pushing to find partners willing to try to make devices designed specifically for women.”
To help further explore these gender-driven differences, any willing patient of the Women’s Heart Program will have her information anonymously captured for research purposes. “Our ability to have a structured
program will allow us to participate in national trials related to heart
disease in women, and find better ways of taking care of women in our
program,” Dr. Gillam says.
Such research is crucial for creating databases of women with heart
disease. Women were generally not included in heart disease research
Dr. Gillam encourages women to come and get a heart assessment. “If you
fall into an area where we know gender differences are very important,
we are here with our team of cardiologists to make sure you get the best
care,” she says. “We want to improve health care outcomes for women
in the community.”
Visit atlantichealth.org/womensheartprogram.
a t l a n t i c h e a l t h . o rg
7
NEWTON
Medical
Center Area
Events
June-September
2012
HEALTH AND
WELLNESS
Smoking Cessation
Through Hypnosis*
Wednesdays, June 13, 6:30-8pm;
September 12, 6:30-8:30pm
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
NMC
Yoga: Continuing Level*
Mondays, 5-6:15pm
Current series goes through
July 2; drop-ins available
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
NMC
Yoga: Mixed Level*
Mondays, 6:30-7:50pm
Current series goes through
July 2; drop-ins available
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
NMC
Safe Sitter® Babysitting Classes*
These medically accurate, handson classes teach boys and girls
ages 11-14 years how to handle
emergencies when dealing
with children. The program was
created by a nationally recognized
pediatrician and includes
“Babysitting as a Business,”
“Success on the Job,” “Child
Care Essentials,” “Safety for the
Sitter,” “Injury Management,”
“Preventing Problem Behavior,”
“Care of Choking Infant” and
“Care of Choking Child.” It
introduces “Preventing Injuries”
and “Behavior Management.”
Saturday, June 2, 8:30am-3:30pm
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
NMC
Mammograms Save Lives
The Newton Medical Center
Foundation funds this program to
provide mammograms for eligible
women who do not have insurance
coverage and are not eligible for
a mammogram through other
screening programs. To find out if
you qualify, call 973-579-8340.
8
A t l a n t i c
Unless otherwise noted, registration is required for all events and programs. To register for
an event, program or screening, visit atlantichealth.org or call 1-800-247-9580, unless an
alternative phone number is listed. *A fee is associated with this program or screening. Find
us on Facebook for updates on selected events and calendar listings.
H e a l t h
WEIGHT
LOSS
Weight Loss Through Hypnosis*
Thursdays, June 14, 6:30-8pm;
September 13, 6:30-8pm
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
NMC
SUPPORT GROUPS
Cancer Support Group
Fourth Thursday of the month:
June 28, July 26, August 23,
September 27, 3-4pm
973-579-8620
NMC
Stroke Support Group
Fourth Tuesday of the month:
June 26, July 24, August 28,
September 25, 6pm
Call 973-579-8620 to register
and for meeting location.
Diabetes Support Group
First Wednesday of each month, 10am
June 6: “Traveling and Visiting
With Diabetes”
August 1: “Dining Out”
September 5: “Dental Care”
Preregistration: 1-800-247-9580
NMC
MATERNAL AND CHILD
HEALTH PROGRAMS
All classes are at Newton Medical
Center. Registration is required for
all classes: 973-579-8340.
Prepared Childbirth Classes*
Sunday, June 3 (1 session), 9am-5pm
Saturday, July 28 and Saturday,
August 4, 8am-1pm
Wednesdays, August 29;
September 5, 12, 19, 7pm-9:30pm
Sunday, September 9 (1 session),
9am-5pm
Breastfeeding*
Tuesday, July 24, 7-9:30pm
Saturday, September 22, 9:30am-Noon
Newborn Parenting*
Saturday, June 30, 9:30am-2pm
Sunday, August 12, 9:30am-2pm
Sy stem
Sibling Preparation Class
Saturday, June 30, 2:30-4pm
Sunday, August 12, 2:30-4pm
Grandparents’ Class*
Saturday, September 22, 1-2:30pm
Pediatric Preoperative Preparation
Classes are held on an as-needed
basis. Registration is required:
973-579-8340.
Maternity Center Tours
Register for tours at NMC by
calling 1-800-247-9580.
Wednesdays, June 20, July 18,
August 15, September 19, 8pm-9pm;
Saturdays, June 23, July 21, August 18,
September 22, 10am-11am
SPARTA HEALTH &
WELLNESS
CENTER PROGRAMS
Breast Cancer Support Group
Second Tuesday of the month:
June 12, July 10, August 14,
September 11, 6:30-9pm
Sparta Health & Wellness Center
1-800-227-2345
Look Good, Feel Better
This free American Cancer Society
program will teach women how to
maintain their appearance during
cancer treatments. Preregistration
is required. Call the American
Cancer Society for dates and
times: 1-800-227-2345.
MILFORD HEALTH
& WELLNESS
CENTER PROGRAMS
Smoking Cessation
Through Hypnosis*
Overcome the psychological
cravings and the desire to smoke
using group hypnosis and behavior
modification techniques.
Wednesdays, June 20 and
September 19, 6:30-8pm
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
Weight Loss Through Hypnosis*
Thursdays, June 21 and
September 20, 6:30-8pm
Preregistration: 973-579-8340
Health Care Provider CPR —
New Provider — $65**
Mondays, June 4 and June 11
7-10pm
Thursdays June 14 and June 21
7-10pm Free Health Screenings
Preregistration is required for all
programs. Call 1-800-247-9580.
Saturday, July 21
9am-3pm
Saturday, July 7
9am-3pm
Saturday, August 25
9am-3pm
Blood Pressure Screening
Tuesday, June 5, 9-11am
Tuesdays, July 17 and 24
Saturday, August 18
9am-3pm
Osteoporosis Risk Assessment
Monday, June 18, 9-11am
Saturday, September 1
9am-3pm
Saturday, September 15
9am-3pm
Call 973-579-8340 for an up-todate list of programs for July
through September.
Basic Life Support and First Aid
The American Heart Association
(AHA) strongly promotes
knowledge and proficiency in BLS,
ACLS and PALS and has developed
instructional materials for this
purpose. Use of these materials
in an educational course does not
represent course sponsorship
by the AHA. Any fees charged for
such a course, except for a portion
of fees needed for AHA course
material, do not represent income
to the AHA.
7-10pm
Mondays, September 17 and 24
7-10pm
Mondays, September 10 and 17
7-10pm
Saturday, September 29
9am-3pm
Saturday, June 30
9am-3pm
Saturday, July 14
9am-3pm
Mondays, August 6 and 13
7-10pm
Saturday, August 11
9am-3pm
Saturday, September 22
9am-3pm
Wednesday, August 8
6:30-10:30pm
Tuesday, June 5
7-10pm
Thursday, August 23
6:30-10:30pm
Thursday, June 28
7-10pm
Thursday, September 6
6:30-10:30pm
Tuesday, July 3
7-10pm
Wednesday, September 26
6:30-10:30pm
Tuesday, August 7
7-10pm
Saturday, June 9
9am-1pm
Tuesday, July 31
6:30-10:30pm
Saturday, June 2
Thursday, August 16
6:30-10:30pm
Wednesday, June 6
7-10pm
Wednesday, August 22
6:30-10:30pm
Thursday, July 5
7-10pm
Tuesday, September 11
6:30-10:30pm
Monday, July 9
7-10pm
Thursday, July 19
6:30-10:30pm
Wednesday, August 15
7-10pm
Thursday, August 9
6:30-10:30pm
Wednesday, September 12
7-10pm
Tuesday, August 21
6:30-10:30pm
Tuesday, September 18
7-10pm
Saturday, September 8
Thursday, September 13
Saturday, June 23
Thursday, September 27
7-10pm
9am-Noon
9am-1pm
6:30-10:30pm
9am-1pm
Heartsaver CPR for Adults,
Children and Infants With AED — $45**
Wednesday, June 13
7-10pm
Tuesday, June 19
7-10pm
Heartsaver First Aid With Adult,
Child and Infant CPR and AED — $65**
Saturday, June 16
9am-3pm
Saturday, July 21
9am-3pm
Saturday, August 25
9am-3pm
Saturday, September 15
9am-3pm
Monday, July 30
7-10pm
Newton Medical Center (NMC)
Thursday, June 7
6:30-10:30pm
Wednesday, August 1
7-10pm
Milford Health & Wellness Center (MHWC)
Wednesday, June 27
6:30-10:30pm
Monday, August 20
7-10pm
Sparta Health & Wellness Center (SHWC)
Wednesday, July 11
6:30-10:30pm
Thursday, August 30
7-10pm
Saturday, August 4
9am-1pm
Tuesday, September 4
7-10pm
Health Care Provider — Renewal — $55**
CPR Registration Form
**All CPR classes are going up by $5 as of July 1.
Registration and payment are required before confirmation in class.
Please Print
Important Information
Name _____________________________________________________
Please note that you are NOT registered until full payment
Mailing Address _____________________________________________
Day Phone _________________ Eve. Phone ______________________
Health Care Provider:
___ New — $65** ___ Renewal — $55**
If renewal, date current card expires: ______________
___ Heartsaver CPR for Adults, Children and Infants With AED — $45**
___ Heartsaver First Aid With Adult, Child and Infant CPR and AED — $65**
Date(s): ________________________________________
Location: ___ NMC ___ MHWC ___ SHWC
has been received.
Refunds will not be issued for classes that are not attended;
you may reschedule within six months.
Dress comfortably!
In inclement weather, listen to WSUS 102.3 FM or WNNJ 103.7 FM
for cancellation information.
 All refunds will carry a $10 administrative fee.
Use of American Heart Association (AHA) materials in an educational course does not
represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for
a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.
Send form to:
Newton Medical Center
175 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Attn: Community Health
Fax: 973-383-4172
treating
cancer
i n w o† m e n
Atlantic Health System is on the
leading edge of gynecologic surgery
Many later-stage cancer surgeries, especially those involving the lymph
nodes, require additional medical expertise from the oncology team at
Morristown Medical Center. “We’ve used the Carol G. Simon Cancer
Center team of medical experts for years — they are excellent.”
“Coming in for an annual physical exam is critical to staying healthy.
For screening, diagnosis and general OB/GYN care, Newton Medical
Center offers everything a woman needs. When you look at the quality
indicators for Newton Medical Center, they are very high,” he adds.
“I want to let the community know this. Women in the area know us;
they come here and are very happy. People new to the area might not
realize there is top-notch physician care right here in their backyard.”
For more information, please go to atlantichealth.org/
womenscancercenter.
F
or those cancers that strike
women only, the Women’s
Cancer Center — part of
Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at
Morristown Medical Center and
Overlook Medical Center — offers
a level of expertise that stands
alone in the Tri-State Area.
“We offer a multidisciplinary
approach, from initial screening
through surgery,” says Brian
Slomovitz, MD, associate director
of the Women’s Cancer Center
and director of oncology research
for Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.
“We lead the patient care from
the surgical diagnosis through
chemotherapy and radiation and
provide long-term follow-up.”
And they remain on the leading
edge of technology, both in
screening and in treatment.
They’ve been practicing robotic
surgery since the technology
was FDA-approved, says Daniel
Tobias, MD, director of the
Women’s Cancer Center and
director, division of gynecologic
10
A t l a n t i c
oncology, Atlantic Health
System, and they are one of the
busiest robotic centers in the
Tri-State Area. “It’s transformed
our practice,” he says.
“Previously, many patients with
malignancies or adhesions from
previous surgeries couldn’t have
laparoscopic surgery, but they
can now get the benefits.”
“Probably fifty percent of what OB/GYNs do is
well-woman care,” says Donald Rubino, MD,
First Step to
FACOG, president of the medical staff for
Women’s Health:
Newton Medical Center and board-certified
Annual Exams
in obstetrics and gynecology. “An annual
physical with follow-up diagnostic screening
is the best method for early detection of cancers,
infections and other diseases. Contraception and
procreation counseling, menopause and sexual issues
are just a few of the topics which may be discussed at an annual visit.”
For surgeons, the benefits
are many. “It gives us threedimensional visualization; it gives
us four arms instead of two; it
gives complete wrist dexterity,”
Dr. Slomovitz says. It’s also more
precise — the robot’s “hands” are
smaller than a surgeon’s.
For cervical cancer, recommendations for screening and management
have changed, as we now have a better understanding of its connection
to the human papilloma virus (HPV). The United States Preventive
Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society agree that
most women should have a Pap smear every three years. “A woman’s
family history and her own medical history may necessitate having a
Pap smear more frequently,” says Dr. Rubino. “This is one of the many
conversations a woman needs to have with her OB/GYN physician.”
Patients experience less blood
loss, less postoperative pain,
fewe r co m p l i ca t i o n s a n d a
quicker return to normal function.
Debbie Sherwood, a 45-year-old
math professor, was home the
day after Dr. Slomovitz performed
her hysterectomy. “I came home
Tuesday,” she says. “Thursday I
went outside for a walk.”
Breast cancer presents a one-in-eight lifetime risk for women. In
addition to mammograms, he counsels high-risk patients and tests
for the BRCA breast cancer gene. Women suspected of having breast
cancer are referred to the surgical and medical specialists at Newton
Medical Center.
H e a l t h
Sy stem
“Endometrial cancer usually makes itself known because of postmenopausal bleeding. The body provides the sign,” says Dr. Rubino.
Diagnosis is made in the office and usually treated surgically at Newton
Medical Center.
An Ideal
Outcome
“Ovarian cancer is more difficult. There’s a less than one percent lifetime
risk, but it’s often diagnosed late because there are no clear warning
signs; and there’s no clear diagnostic test. Symptoms may present
as abdominal pain, bloating or a change in bowel habits,” he says.
“However, these symptoms do not always mean cancer. Ultrasound and
the CA-125 blood test may be helpful in clarifying the diagnosis, but
ultimately the diagnosis is made surgically — usually by laparoscopic
removal of the ovary.
People new to the area might not
realize there is top-notch physician
care right here in their backyard.
The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is over
ninety percent when it’s treated early. Unfortunately,
only fifteen percent of cases are found early.
Ovarian
Cancer Screening
Trial Seeks
Participants
Now, Morristown Medical Center and Overlook
Medical Center are participating in a study
exploring early detection of the disease. It tracks
levels of blood protein CA-125 in normal-risk
women between 50 and 74.
The study looks at CA-125 in a new way, Dr. Slomovitz explains, because
it watches the rate of change over time. “We’re finding that’s a better
screening tool than just looking at whether it’s normal or abnormal,”
Dr. Slomovitz says.
That’s because one snapshot may not tell the real story. “CA-125 can be
falsely elevated from noncancerous conditions,” Dr. Tobias says. “And half
of women with early-stage disease have normal levels of CA-125. This is a
way to see if the low-risk, typical patient will benefit from regular screening.”
To find out more, call 973-971-6491,
email [email protected] or go to
atlantichealth.org/ovariancancertrial.
Alarming symptoms, a
call to paramedics and
an unusual diagnosis for
a very young woman
T
he morning of February 23,
2012, seemed no different
from any other for 27-yearold Allison Bradley. She had
begun her usual morning routine,
getting ready to head to her job
as a human resources analyst.
“The next thing I remember is
being on the bedroom floor,” she
says. “I couldn’t get back up.”
She crawled to her cellphone and
called 911. Paramedics broke
down her door and rushed her
to Morristown Medical Center.
That’s where Paul Saphier, MD, an
endovascular and cerebrovascular
neurosurgeon, first saw her. He
knew she was having a stroke —
a major one. “Allison was
suffering from as severe a stroke
as you can have,” he says. “She
had absolutely no function on
the left side of her body.” Brain
imaging revealed a complete
blockage of the main blood vessel
to the right side of her brain.
Because doctors could not
assign a time of onset for the
stroke, they could not try “clotbusting” medications, which
must be administered within
4½ hours. She was taken to
surgery, where Dr. Saphier
reached the blockage using the
MERCI device — a catheter and
wire combination — guiding
it all the way up from a blood
vessel in her leg to her brain.
“I engaged that clot and pulled
it out,” he says. “Within a
few moments, she started
to return to normal.”
Morristown Medical Center is
Stroke Screening: one of only a few hospitals in the
state with the resources and the
endovascular neurosurgeons
to perform this procedure, Dr.
Saphier says. “Our group has
more neurosurgeons trained
in this area, performing more
cases than any other group
in the tri-state region.”
Doctors could identify only one
risk factor for Allison’s stroke:
oral contraceptives, which are
rarely associated with strokes.
“Not everyone on them will
have a stroke, but it is a risk
factor, and it’s one that people
should recognize. If they mistake
the symptoms, they may risk
a golden opportunity to save
their lives,” Dr. Saphier says.
For Allison, who says she feels
“very lucky,” it was only a matter
of days before she returned to
her normal activities: working,
running, planning her wedding.
“She will make a complete
recovery,” Dr. Saphier says.
“When she was leaving my
office, she said, ‘Thanks to you,
I’ll walk down the aisle.’”
Could It Be Stroke?
Think FAST to remember the
warning signs of stroke:
• Face: Numbness, weakness,
one side drooping
• Arms/legs: Weakness, numbness
• Speech: Trouble speaking
or understanding speech
• Time: Call 911 and note the
time of onset
For more information,
please go to atlantichealth.org/
strokecenters.
Saturday, September 15, 9am to Noon
Camp Jefferson, 81 Weldon Road,
Jefferson Township, Lake Hopatcong
1-800-247-9580
“It’s impossible for people to know exactly what constitutes
an emergency when they don’t have the training or experience,”
says Mark Mandell, MD, chairperson, Department of Emergency
Medicine, Morristown Medical Center.
When It’s an
emergency
How do you know when you’re
actually having an emergency?
Y
es, certain complaints are probably
always an emergency, he says, but
it can depend on the person’s age.
“For somebody over the age of 30,
it’s probably always an emergency if
they’re having chest pains or if they’re having
difficulty breathing or if they’re confused. It’s best
to call 911 for these complaints.”
Not every laceration needs to be seen — but of
course, many do. “We see lacerations where
patients probably didn’t need to come to the
emergency room, and we see lacerations where
they come a day later and they probably should
have come right away,” he says. “Any laceration
Morristown Medical Center offers a high
level of expertise, Dr. Mandell says. “We have
orthopedics with multiple subspecialties. We
have over 20 different pediatric subspecialists.
We have cardiologists who subspecialize in
interventional work and electrophysiology. If you
have something potentially serious, a full range
of specialty backup can make the difference
between life and death.”
Morristown Medical Center is also a major
trauma center, treating more than 1,200 major
traumas a year. Many are flown in by helicopter.
Morristown Medical Center’s physicians are
uniquely qualified among emergency physicians,
“The best thing is for people to come in
and let us look,” Dr. Mandell says.
of the hand that is potentially dirty, like a bite,
should probably be seen. Most people who have
facial lacerations will probably want to be seen. If
a person isn’t sure, it’s probably best to be seen.”
Someone with no history of headaches who
develops the worst headache of his or her life
should go to the emergency room, he says.
“The best thing is for people to come in and
let us look,” Dr. Mandell says. “We don’t mind
seeing things that turn out not to be that serious.
Patients come in because they don’t know, and
we’re happy to take care of them.”
If you’re concerned enough to seek emergency
treatment, it makes sense to go to the best
hospital in your area, one with the expertise to
handle emergencies of any kind.
Ardelle Bigos, RN, MSN, CMSRN, chief nursing
officer for Newton Medical Center, agrees. “We
see every patient, from automobile accidents to
snakebites. Our Emergency Department provides
full-service emergent care, with access to the
latest diagnostic technology.
The newly renovated emergency room at
12
A t l a n t i c
H e a l t h
Sy stem
Dr. Mandell says. “We have people on staff with
training in toxicology, hyperbaric medicine,
pediatric emergency medicine and ultrasound.
We are the site of the first emergency medicine
training program in New Jersey.”
With all that expertise available close by, there’s
no reason to try to diagnose yourself. “There’s an
emotional component of all this, Dr. Mandell says.
We’ve all heard of the physician having a heart
attack who didn’t come into the emergency room
because he was denying what was happening.
Years ago, when I was at the Mayo Clinic, the head
of the Mayo Clinic coronary care unit sat at home
while he was having a heart attack, drinking
Maalox®.” Dr. Mandell says he couldn’t accept
that he was having a heart attack.
The lesson? “It’s really important for family
members to intervene if they think someone may
be practicing denial,” Dr. Mandell says. “Just call
the ambulance.”
Then, in the emergency room, you can let an
expert assess the problem. “The large proportion
of things we see are fine, and that’s what we’re
there for,” he says. “It feels good for us to
reassure people things are going to be OK.”
Atlantic Health
System’s Broad
Network of
Emergency Care
The hospitals of Atlantic Health System
are fully integrated and able to quickly
get a patient to the right physician
when seconds count. “When entering
an Emergency Department, a patient
meets with a triage nurse to determine
the severity of the medical emergency.
With this information, the Emergency
Department team of physicians and
nurses take action,” says Ardelle Bigos,
MSN, CMSRN, chief nursing officer for
Newton Medical Center. “For injuries,
such as simple lacerations, the team
will perform stitches. For fractures,
x-rays or other imaging scans will be
completed and treatment will begin.”
For truly urgent medical emergencies, a
comprehensive diagnostic assessment is
performed. The individual may be admitted
to Newton Medical Center for ongoing
care and treatment. For the extremely
severe emergency situation requiring
extensive tertiary care or trauma, an
individual may be transferred to one of the
sister medical centers at Atlantic Health
System. Once the patient has come into
the Emergency Department at Newton
Medical Center, he or she is part of
Atlantic Health System, with easy access
to all expert subspecialty care provided
by Morristown Medical Center, Overlook
Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s
Hospital. Using the Atlantic Ambulance
medevac helicopters, Morristown Medical
Center is only eight minutes away.
“Like any emergency room, the majority
of our patients at Newton Medical
Center are treated here and sent home,”
adds Bigos. “At Newton, there are over
32,000 Emergency Department visits
a year. Our goal is to provide a healing
environment and make our patients well.”
For more information, please go to
atlantichealth.org/morristownemergency.
a t l a n t i c h e a l t h . o rg
13
Making It
New
Again
What you need to know about
joint replacement
A
nthony Radano put off knee replacement as long as he could. “I’ve been
struggling with this knee since I was 18,” says Radano, now 69. Ten
years ago, an orthopedic surgeon said he’d need a replacement, but
Radano stalled. “Over the next 10 years, the knee deteriorated so far,
I was concerned that it would continue. So I finally felt it would be better to have
the surgery now.”
He visited surgeons around New Jersey and New York. Then a friend told him about
William Dowling, MD, FAAOS, FACS, chairperson of the Department of Orthopedics
for Morristown Medical Center and medical director of Orthopedic Services for
Atlantic Health System. “He was the key,” Radano says. “It was a no-brainer — I
wanted to go with him.”
Radano is now back home in Flemington, doing therapy three times a week. He
was so pleased with his experience, he recently wrote a letter to the president of
Morristown Medical Center to let him know.
That high standard of care at Atlantic Health System — where more than 2,000 hip
and joint replacements are performed annually, the most in New Jersey — has just
helped Morristown Medical Center to earn a recertification as a Gold Seal Center
of Excellence for total joint and spine programs, says Dr. Dowling. It’s one of about
30 places in the country to have both orthopedic Joint Commission certifications.
“We’ve got a cadre of joint replacement surgeons who are fellowship trained at
some of the best training programs in the United States, with a broad variety of
techniques and approaches that you wouldn’t find most places in this country,”
Dr. Dowling says.
State-of-the-art equipment also contributes to their excellent track
record, says Glen Bradish, MD, FAAOS, chief of surgery and an orthopedic surgeon for Newton Medical Center. “We have all the latest technology here. We use MRI-generated custom implants,” he
says. “There’s nothing in any hospital anywhere in New Jersey or
in New York that we don’t have here.” That includes the latest
technology in postoperative pain control, too — a combination
of spinal and regional anesthetics means less need for narcotics. Atlantic Health System’s comprehensive program
starts long before the procedure, with classes to educate
patients about the operation and the services, and a meeting with the personnel, from nurses to occupational therapists. Following surgery, Atlantic Health System continues
with rehab and home health care aligned with the program.
Judith Pasnik is a retired physical therapist, so she knew how
things would go after she had both knees replaced in early February. In late March, she took a trip to Florida and walked for miles
on the beach.
She’s extremely pleased with the way the entire process, before surgery through therapy, went at Morristown Medical Center. “The nursing
staff, the aides, the assistants — everybody who came in the room was
very caring,” she says. “That type of milieu makes you feel better. I
think you heal faster.”
For more information, please go to
atlantichealth.org/jointreplacement.
14
A t l a n t i c
H e a l t h
Sy stem
Your Joint Health
What lifestyle habits
affect joint health?
Dr. Dowling: Weight reduction,
having an active lifestyle
and avoiding an excess of
impact loading on the lower
extremities. Some running is
OK. It’s excessive, repeated
running that’s an issue.
What are some of the
risk factors for joint
problems?
Dr. Bradish: Activity level
is one. Athletes involved in
running and jumping, manual
laborers — these people are at
more risk for osteoarthritis, the
most common reason for joint
replacement. Inflammatory
arthritis can also be a risk
factor, though not as common as
degenerative arthritis. There is
not always a cause. Sometimes
it’s just genetic programming
that causes the joint to wear out.
What are signs of joint
problems?
Dr. Dowling: If you’re running
into difficulty with a hip, the
most common sign is pain
in the groin. The other is
stiffness. With the knee, it’s
stiffness and swelling, so
you lose mobility and see a
difference in appearance. Most
people are slightly bowlegged
or knock-kneed. If that gets
worse, that’s a sign the joint is
deteriorating as well.
When is joint replacement
indicated?
Dr. Dowling: Everybody should
have a fair trial at managing
their problem nonoperatively.
The first thing to try is Tylenol®;
the second would be an anti-
inflammatory, something over
the counter, like Advil® or
Aleve®. When you have to do it
every day, other options start to
present themselves. Injections
of cortisone are temporary
measures to relieve some of
the discomfort. Unfortunately,
nothing we have right now
alters the underlying disease
state; they treat the symptoms.
You also have to weigh the
risks associated with taking the
medications.
So it’s a sequential progression
in terms of what you require.
It leads you to replacement.
It’s not based on the x-ray; it’s
based on how you feel. I’ve
never had a patient yet who did
not come back and say, “I know
it’s time now.”
Another is about taking
glucosamine and chondroitin.
There’s probably very little
supportive evidence that it
restores the joint. But a small
group of people feel it provides
an alleviation of symptoms, and
there’s relatively low risk.
Dr. Bradish: Most people
think the surgery removes a
segment of the knee. It is really
a resurfacing of the ends of the
bones. It’s not replacement at
all; it’s like a cap on your tooth.
That’s why a more accurate
term than replacement is
arthroplasty.
What’s life like after joint
replacement?
Dr. Bradish: There’s a very high
success rate in pain relief and
increased function, but it’s not
recommended to run or jump
after joint replacement. Activities
such as doubles tennis, lowgrade skiing and weight training
are OK. These recommendations
are to increase the longevity of
the implant.
What myths about joint
health/replacement
would you like to dispel?
Dr. Dowling: One of the most
common is that the replacement
joint will last 15 to 20 years.
On the average, that’s true, but
it does not mean they cannot
last a whole lot longer — or
unfortunately, not that long.
It’s the average, but it does not
mean it’s where you’ll be.
a t l a n t i c h e a l t h . o rg
15
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 148
SARATOGA
NY 12866
Atlantic Health System
475 South Street
Morristown, NJ
07960-6459
For a referral to
an Atlantic Health System
doctor, call 1-800-247-9580
or visit atlantichealth.org.
Atlantic Health System
Main Locations
1
Morristown Medical Center (includes Carol G. Simon Cancer Center and
Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute) 100 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
2
11
New Jersey
Milford, pa
10
435 South St.
(includes clinical practices for IT Staging,
Morristown Cardiology, OB and URO/GYN,
Department of Surgery, Center for Advanced
Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine,
Diabetes Center, Metabolic Medicine, Madison
Pediatrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine)
435 South St., Morristown, NJ 07960
3 Atlantic Sports Health
111 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
Vernon
9
newton
12
sparta
4 Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute
95 Mount Kemble Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
5 Goryeb Children’s Hospital
1
2
3
5
100 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
6
Overlook Medical Center
(includes Atlantic Neuroscience Institute,
Carol G. Simon Cancer Center and Goryeb
Children’s Center)
99 Beauvoir Ave., Summit, NJ 07901
4
7 Overlook, Union Campus
(includes Emergency Department, Overlook
Imaging and Outpatient Laboratory Services)
1000 Galloping Hill Rd., Union, NJ 07083
8
morristown
Overlook Downtown
8
(includes Atlantic Healthy Lifestyles —
Integrative Medicine and Overlook Medical
Center Community Health)
357 Springfield Ave., Summit, NJ 07901
9
6
summit
Newton Medical Center
175 High St., Newton, NJ 07860
7
10 Vernon Urgent Care
212 State Route 94, Suite 1A, Vernon, NJ 07462
union
11 Milford Health & Wellness
111 Catherine St., Milford, PA 18337
12 Sparta Health & Wellness
89 Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ 07871
Find us on Facebook